National Republican., 1887-09-28
A woRDY HIPPoDRoME.
How the Commissioners and the Com
mIttee Sparred for Points

mittee Spared for Points.
The District building was yesterday the
scene Of considerable confusion, much
noise, and some very vehement language.
The committee on streets and avenues (from
the Representative Committee of One Hun
dred) called upon the District commits
sioners and presented to them their report
on the streets which most needed repairing.
The committee was composed Of Mr.. Noble
ID. LarBer, chairman; Mr.. NJ. l. Weller,
secretary, and Messrs. Thomas J. Luttrell,
ii. Strasburger, and s. G. Clark. All the
commissioners were present. and very
lively seance resulted.
After the customary handshaking had
been INDUCED In and the combatants had
emiled fercely at each other Commissioner
Webb Informed the visitors that the COM
missioners were ready to receive any com
munication which the COMMITTEE might be
prepared to submit, and Mr.. Weller re-
sponded with the report
A ring was then metaphoricolly) formed
and Mr.. Noble ID. Larner stepped into 1t
and proceeded to inform the commissioners
that their administration on street improve
ments had caused much dissatisfaction.
This statement, not being new or startling,
had no visible effect upon the persons to
whom IL was directed. Mr.. Larner then
went on to say that the citizens commit.
tee desired to submit list OF the
streets it deemed necessary to i'm
prove, and trusted, although there
had been strife in tho past, that the com
mittee and the commissioners hereafter
would be able to work together In peace
full, harm onious manner. This remark was
received with sigh OF relief by Commis-
stone Webb, but Mr.. Wheatley wanted to
know whether the committee desired the
commissioners to submit the schedule to
Congress or was II merely indicative Of the
wishes OF the citizens.
Mr. Larner said they desired to guide the
commissioners In making their recomm men
dations. He thought more money might be
obtained for street improvements.
Col. Ludlow asked how much money
would he required to make the improve
ments called for by the report and Mr..
larrer informed him that Il would be in
The reiGhboibood Of Sl,000,O00.
"What do you mean by the word neigh
hoihood pn Quericd Col. Ludlow, and Mr..
Weller promptly Informed him that iJ
meant ''Dine hundred and some odd thous-
ana dollars"
Col. Ludlow desired TO bs enlightened as
to the theory on which the appropriation
was to be divided, aud Mr.. Weller gritifed
him by stating that II was on the "theory
Of peeds,n MIR. Larner confirming the state
inent, whereupon Col Ludlow insinuated
that "the needs are very much greater than
can be satisfied at once" and then jumped
on Mr.. Weller once more, asking him how
much Of the appropriation he would give to
the neglected portions OF the city and
where were the So called neglected portions
situated. The response was, "Seventy.flve
per cent, and the neglected portions Of the
city are the northeast, southeast, aud south.
west sections"
Col. Ludlow then propounded conun-
drum by asking how much OF the north
west WAS neglected, but before anybody
had a chance to say "Give IL up" Mr..
Larner staggered the questioner by inform
ing him that the committee had not come
to discuss these questions; their duty was
simply to tell Of the needs Of the city.
Commissioner Webb aud Mr.. Larner then
bad Il lively set.to as to the appor,ionment
Of the appropriation, in which Mr.. Larner
came off best.
Mr.. Clark criticised the manner 10 which
money had been used on streets, AMI was
getting along very pleasantly when Col
Ludlow freezirgly asked him what he un-
derstood was meant by the word "needsn
Mr. Clark's gloves, SO to speak, were of
iD an instant, and the gallant marine was
Informed that the committee didn't come to
quibble owe words. Whereupon the colo
mel bounced out OF his chair, or rather the
chair he occupied, and said that If Mr..
Clark didn't know what was meant by that
expression how could 1t be expected that
he, Ludlow, could understand it.
AS Mr.. Clark could not explain why Col.
Ludlow was unable to understand the meau-
Ing Of that or any other word, there was
quite an exciting scene for while, and IL
grew still noisier and more exciting when
they each accused the other Of qubbling.
| The colonel was evidently sparring for wind,
| and the round was closed by Mr.. Llrner,
who acted as peacemaker, and made Wig
orous effort 10 explain the "needs." 1t
was, however, but minute or two before
| the peacemaker and the colonel found them
selves engaged In rafting four.round
contest, in which the commissioner said he
understood that there was more IN the re-
port than related to the streets,
This brought Mr.. Larner out Of his cor
ner ahead OF time, and he raped his oppo-
nent by stating badly that there was moth
| ing In that report that the committee could
not substantiate and prove. They asked NO
fayors they were citizens and taxpayers.
| The event Of the day, however. was the
| ffee-fo all contest on the diversion of ap-
| rropriations. Mr.. Larner and Col. Ludlow
| went at IL "hammer and tongs,n and Mr..
| Weller and Mr.. Whe8tley tried their utmost
| 10 trip each ether In u catch as-catch. can
| tifoit, Mr.. Strasburger seemed to be mas
| ter OF ceremonies, While Mr.. Luttrell, on
the sofa, looked as though he might have
teen referee, and Mr.. Clark was near the
| door, ready to call in the police II there was
any sluggiug. Mr. Webb took no active
| part In the engagement, but walked nerv-
| Ously up and Gown the room with such an
| expression on his countenance as might
| have been seen last night IN the possession
| Of those misguided individuals who be,
| their money OIL the Thistle,
Mr.. Larner aud Col. Ludlow cllnchei
| us II were, on the report, and al
| the Efforts of the referee and Mr.. Weller tc
make them "break away" were Intellectual
Mr.. Larner insisted that they had made
no insinuations against the commissioners
| hut IL they had had any charges to make
they would have been made in black aud
| white.
This was the "wnd-up," and when the
| committee had IN measure recovered iti
| wind the interview closed, not, however
before the commissioners had promised u
| give the schedule careful consideration.
| -
Patents Issued TO District citizens.